CUBA: LA ISLA GRANDE

16 days from GBP1,599 to GBP2,279 including flights

Tripcode: AUB

Itinerary

Day 1: The group flight arrives in the afternoon and takes a transfer to our hotel. Those on Land Only arrangements should join us at the hotel in the evening.
Day 2: We start our tour by driving to the Bay of Pigs, the site of the US invasion in 1961. We stop for lunch and spend the afternoon here. There is a museum at Playa Giron to visit and there is time to swim and enjoy the scenery. We then transfer to Cienfuegos for the night.
Day 3: After breakfast we have a tour of Cienfuegos then take a boat trip around the harbour before our transfer to Trinidad. We have some time to explore this beautiful town, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1988 and perhaps the best-preserved colonial town on the island. Exploring Trinidad is like entering a time warp, the cobbled streets and horse drawn transportation take us back to Colonial Times. There are many interesting museums housed in old colonial buildings to visit. We recommend a visit to Trinidad's Casa de la Trova in the evenings for traditional Cuban music and dancing.
Day 4: Short drive to Ancon Peninsula. We now board our catamaran to explore the south coast of Cuba. We sail across the Bay of Casilda to have a fresh seafood lunch amongst tame iguanas on the small island of Cayo Macho. There is time for relaxation, snorkelling over virgin coral reefs and enjoying the Caribbean life!
Day 5: Morning departure from Trinidad to drive to Banao. We take a gentle 5 km walk along the river passing through areas rich in flora and fauna. After lunch we continue our journey to Camaguey where we spend the night. There will be time to explore the historic city, characterised by tinajones - large, earthen jugs, found in the squares, churches and gardens, originally used to store water during drought periods.
Day 6: however due to popularity of the area we may stay in the beautiful Colonial City of Bayamo."
Day 7: We spend today in the Gran Parque Nacional Sierra Maestra, a spectacular national park within Cuba's highest mountain range. This region is well known as Fidel Castro's base of operations during the Cuban Revolutionary War. High in the Sierra is Comandancia La Plata, the secret mountain hideout of Castro and Che Guevara, used for planning the revolutionary war in the 1950's and as the base of Radio Rebelde used to provide information for the revolutionaries. We hike to the revolutionary base and we may have time to bathe in the Yara River. In the evening we transfer to Santiago.
Day 8: Known as the city of heroes for the important role it played in Independence and Revolutionary struggles. During our time here we visit Santa Ifigenia cemetery, Revolution Square, El Morro Castle and Moncada Barracks - where the opening shots of the revolution were fired on 26 July 1953, when Castro and his men attacked the barracks. Santiago rivals Havana in literature, music and politics, and is rich in traditions, folklore and legends making almost every street corner in the city famous.
Day 9: Morning departure for Baracoa. This was the first Spanish settlement, founded in 1512 and served as the capital for 3 years. It is a quaint town, surrounded by lush, tropical mountains and has only been accessible by road since the 1960s. Baracoa, on the easternmost tip of the island was open to attacks from pirates, smugglers and the English, so three forts were constructed in the 18th century for protection. The area is renowned for cocoa growing and chocolate production. The Malecon on the northeast side of the town is known as the Caribbean's first ocean drive. There is still a strong Indian influence here and the El Yunque Mountain, (the anvil shaped mountain described by Christopher Columbus in his diaries) used to be the site of various aboriginal communities. We arrive at lunchtime and spend the afternoon exploring.
Day 10: There is a free day to explore the town or visit the beach. We also offer an optional trek to the Biosphere Reserve near Baracoa.
Day 11: After breakfast we leave Baracoa and follow the coast to the beautiful Cayo Saetia. Until recently these idyllic beaches had been the private reserve of high-ranking communist officials; however the network of sandy beaches and mangroves are now open to all. We have a few hours to relax on the beach. Optional jeep tours are available to view some of the more exotic wildlife that has been introduced into the region, including antelope and zebra. We complete our day by driving to Holguin.
Day 12: Early morning departure for the long drive to Santa Clara, site of the last battle of the Cuban revolution in December 1958, just before Batista left the island. Che Guevara and his troops ambushed an armoured train carrying arms to Santiago de Cuba and this was a major turning point in the revolution. We visit the armoured train museum and the Mausoleum of Che Guevara and his comrades who died in Bolivia.
Day 13: Morning sightseeing in Santa Clara before driving to Havana. We have time to visit the Revolution Square and the Capitolio Building before checking into our hotel.
Day 14: Today is free for you to explore Havana or take an optional day trip to Vinales. The Vinales valley is filled with palm trees and tobacco farms, where traditional farming methods are still used. In the evening there is an optional trip to the famous Tropicana Nightclub in Havana.
Day 15: We have a city tour of old and new Havana, Cuba's capital and the largest city in the Caribbean. This is a busy and bustling, energetic capital. Old Havana is often described as a living museum with its marvellous monuments, cathedrals and palaces. This is the finest surviving Spanish colonial complex in the Americas, preserved by a combination of minimal war damage, post revolution restoration work and the millions of dollars invested since it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982. We also visit the glitzier Miramar district and the Plaza de la Revolution with its images of the Cuban Revolution. We will also take time to try a Mojito cocktail and lunch (included) in one of Hemingway's old haunts, La Bodeguita del Medio. The group flight departs in the afternoon.
Day 16: Arrive London.